FOR a long time issues surrounding the application of individual patient funding requests have been widely debated at the Welsh Assembly.

Welsh Labour made a commitment on our return to Welsh Government to review the whole process of applying for funding.

IPFR are for those people who require treatment that is outside routine treatment offered by the NHS in Wales which is a very sensitive issue.

A panel has now been established to review this process and the panel feels that critical to the success of the review is to understand how people affected by the IPFR process feel, their views as to the root causes of problems, and what actions they think would make a difference. 

The role of the panel is to listen carefully to these views, alongside all other evidence it can gather, and then to make recommendations. 

At the forefront of the panel members’ minds will be the patients, their carers and relatives.

Blaenau Gwent constituents are invited to take part in the review by attending a workshop on Friday November 11, from 9am-12 noon at the Life Sciences Hub, 3 Assembly Square, Cardiff Bay, CF10 4PL.

If you are unable to make the workshop but would still like to share your views on the process, please email me your concerns alun.davies@assembly.wales by Monday (November 7).

In other news, I have recently visited Six Bells Park to see how the friends group are helping to support the facility.

I was very impressed with the efforts of the group and it’s great to see so many people taking pride in looking after the park. They have done a great job.